Austrus fundraiser readies for large crowd on Friday

The meat is almost on the grill and the auction tables are at the ready to help support Deb Austrus and her family through her fourth cancer battle.

A fundraising event will be held Friday at the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department on Fortuna Boulevard at 6 p.m. in her honor. Tickets are available at Rings Pharmacy in Ferndale, Green's Pharmacy in Fortuna, Anderson Lucas Somerville & Borges in Fortuna, Loleta Elementary, and Linden and Company in Eureka. There will be to-go meals available to accommodate those who need it.

Austrus has undergone her gamma knife surgery and as her husband Cas states, "As always Deb was a real trooper through it all." After the surgery on Jan. 29, Austrus and her loved ones were able to come home for a short time to get some much needed rest and recover from the flu.

On Feb. 6, the Austrus family headed back down to UCSF compliments of the Mercer Fraser Company. Once at UCSF, they met with the medical oncologist and discussed medication changes and the possibility of clinical trials if the current treatment does not progress.

On Friday, Austrus will be meeting with her doctor at UCSF to finalize her medication changes.

"We live in such an awesome area," said Angela Johnson. "This community is full of generosity. We have a lot of items in the auction and the live auction. The live auction has Giants tickets, firewood, boat trips, Cincinnati Reds signed memorabilia, weekend stays, dinners north and south of Fortuna, CR baskets with season tickets and camps, and so many more."

Johnson and the rest of the fundraising committee encourage everyone to come on down to the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department Firehall for dinner and a great evening.

"This is a community that supports someone and provides such love and generosity," she said. "The outpouring for such a wonderful woman and family is truly what community is about."

The support and outpouring has been amazing, according to committee members. "It makes me very proud to be a part of such a community to both live in and raise my children," said Johnson.

Everyone is looking forward to Cas and Deb Austrus to be at the fundraiser where they will be extending their heartfelt and deepest gratitude to the community that has shown them so much love and support.